Kedar
We went to a different church one Sunday so we missed the sermon in our own church on Song of Solomon. And our pastor had even promised that it would be rated PG-13! But the church we visited was also talking about love. Just so I wouldn’t miss out, I spent the announcement time reading the first chapter of Song of Solomon.
I got as far as verse five: “I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem, dark as the tents of Kedar.” So, being curious I looked up Kedar.
Kedar was the second son of Ishmael, and became the leading tribe of the Ishmaelites. They were a numerous and powerful tribe, not of the best reputation, (Psalm 120:5), and the whole of Arabia is sometimes called Kedar. My Bible dictionary also says Kedar is the forefather of Mohammed and the Muslims of today. “It is through Kedar (Arabic, keidar) that Muslim genealogists trace the descent of Mohammed from Ishmael.”
It is significant that the Song of Solomon begins in verse five with a reference to Kedar, and the object of the king’s affection is compared to a daughter of Kedar. Obviously Kedar, the second son of Ishmael, was not living in Solomon’s day. By “Kedar” he was referring to the descendants of Kedar. We call those descendants today, Muslims.
As a Christian, how can I not love the Muslims, how can they not be the object of my affection? Oh, that doesn’t mean I have to agree with them or accept their beliefs as truth. I love my children. They came into my life naked, loud, and totally self-centered. But because I loved them I sacrificed to clothe them. I fed them, nurtured them, and taught them to be loving adults. Love does not equal acquiescence. Loving Muslims means we meet their real needs (not their wants), and we tell them the truth.
Reading on I come to Kedar again in the 60th chapter of Isaiah.
1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.
2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.
3 All nations will come to your light;” (NLT)
After listing the Gentiles that shall come to the light, he continues:
6 “The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense
and will come worshiping the LORD.
7 The flocks of Kedar will be given to you.”
How can Kedar, how can the Muslims, come to the light of the Gospel if we do not show them the light, if we shun them for fear that we may lose some of the freedoms we have?
Yes, I know. Not all Muslims are kind, and some actually want to kill me. But the vast majority of Muslims desire acceptance and friendship.
What is the desire of the one in the Song of Solomon, the one compared to the daughters of Kedar? Song of Solomon 5:4-6 paints a sad picture, one I hope is never repeated.
4 “My lover tried to unlatch the door,
and my heart thrilled within me.
5 I jumped up to open the door for my love,
and my hands dripped with perfume.
My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh
as I pulled back the bolt.
6 I opened to my lover,
but he was gone!
My heart sank.
I searched for him
but could not find him anywhere.
I called to him,
but there was no reply.” (NLT)
This is our opportunity to share the light of the Gospel to Muslims. I hope we don’t withdraw in fear from them. They are waiting for our answers.
